Machine for coiling filamentary material

ABSTRACT

A MACHINE FOR COILING CONTINUOUS LENGTH FILAMENTARY MATERIAL SO AS TO FORM A PAIR OF COILED FILAMENTS FOR USE IN SLIDE FASTENER STRINGERS COMPRISING A PAIR OF ROTATABLE SPOOLS HORIZONTALLY ARRANGED IN ALIGNMENT WITH ONE ANOTHER WITH EACH HAVING A SUPPLY OF FILAMENT WOUND THEREAROUND, A PAIR OF ARCUATED NEEDLE-LIKE STATIONARY MANDRELS AROUND WHICH THE FILAMENTS ARE WOUND AS THEY PASS FROM THE ROTATABLE SPOOLS, EACH OF SAID MANDRELS BEING RIGIDLY SUPPORTED AT A POINT OFFSET FROM THE AXES OF ROTATION OF THE ROTATABLE SPOOLS AND BEING RECTANGULAR SHAPE IN CROSS SECTION WHEREBY THE FILAMENTS ARE SUBJECTED TO A GREATER TENSION AS THEY PASS FROM THE ROTATABLE SPOOLS TO   THE RESPECTIVE MANDRELS THROUGH ONE PART OF A REVOLUTION THAN THAT TO WHICH THE FILAMENTS ARE SUBJECTED DURING THE ROTATION OF THE SAME THROUGH THE OTHER PART OF THE REVOLUTION SO AS TO DEFORM THE FILAMENTS AT SPACED-APART INTERVALS THEREALONG IN COOPERATION WITH THE SIDES OF SAID MANDRELS IN EACH OF THE CONVOLUTIONS OF THE COILED FILAMENTS AT ONE SIDE THEREOF, AND A FORMING WHEEL HAVING A PAIR OF GROOVES ARRANGED AND AROUND THE PERIPHERY THEREOF IN WHICH THE FREE ENDS OF THE NEEDLE-LIKE MANDRELS ARE POSITIONED AND INTO WHICH GROOVES THE COILED FILAMENTS ARE DELIVERED.

Jan 12, 1971 w v GHERY MACHINE FOR COILING FILAMENTARY MATERIAL 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 17, 1967 L2 0 ATTORNEYS.

INVENTOR. M14722 1 67/52) Emma. 12, 1971 v, ERY 3,553,?2

MACHINE FOR COILING FILAMENTARY MATERIAL Filed Nov. 17, 1967 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Hllllllllll muull JNVENTOR. M1447 M CHE/8V B iii/J A TTORNEYS.

12, 1971 i W. V. CHERY MACHINE FOR COILING FILAMENTARY MATERIAL Filed Nov. '17, 1967 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. We; r52 M C'f/EPV BY W4 7 ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent US. Cl. 1s-19 12 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A machine for coiling continuous length filamentary material so" as to form a pair of coiled filaments for use in' slide .fastener stringers comprising a pair of rotatable spools horizontally arranged in alignment with one another with each having a supply of filament wound therearound, a pair of arcuated needle-like stationary mandrels around which the, filaments are Wound as they pass from the rotatable spools, each of said mandrels being rigidly supported at 'a point offset from the axes of rotation of the rotatable spools and being rectangular shape in cross section whereby the filaments are subjected to a greater tension as they pass from the rotatable spools to the'respective mandrels through one part of a revolution than that to which the filaments are subjected during the rotation of the same through the other part of the revolutionso as to deform the filaments at spaced-apart intervals therealong in cooperation with the sides of said mandrels in each of the convolutions of the coiled filaments at one side thereof, and a forming wheel having a pair of grooves arranged and around the periphery thereof in which the free ends of the needle-like mandrels are positioned and into which grooves the coiled filaments are delivered.

; Ihis invention relates to an improved machine for making coils of filamentary material and, particularly, to an improved machine for making interlockingcoils of filamentary material, such as nylon and other plastic filaments, for use as interlocking fastening elements for slide fasteners.

The coiling machine of the present invention is particularly adaptable for making coiled filaments for slide fastenerstringers of the so-called filament type similar to that shown in" the US. Pat. No. 2,300,442, issued Nov. 3, 1942, and is an improvement over the apparatus and machine shown in US. Pats. No. 3,145,523, issued Aug. 25, 1964 and No. 3,196,489, issued July 27, 1965. i

1 Various types of machines and apparatus have been heretoforesuggested and used for the formation of interlocking coils of filamentary material, which machines includegenerally a needle or mandrel around which are pa seed, in suitable orbits, spools carrying the filaments from which the coils are made, but such machines have not been entirely satisfactory. In most machines in order to enable'the spools to move around the mandrel, it was necessary that they be mounted on carriers which include interrupted guide rings to enable one ring to pass through the other. Such machines have a number of disadvantages when used to manufacture interlocking coils. Inasmuch a s'the spools of filaments must be mounted eccentrically o f'the axes of the carriers to enable the spools to move orbitally around the mandrel, the carriers are inherently unbalanced. When the carriers are balanced in order to compensate for the weight of full spools of the filament,

they become progressively more unbalanced as the filament is withdrawn from the spools, thereby setting up vibrations in the apparatus and preventing high speed operation pf the machine. Also, the parts of such machines 3,553,782 Patented Jan. 12, 1971 were subject to excessive wear after a short period of use and were difiicult to keep in adjustment and to maintain.

The segmental or interrupted arrangement of the carriers also introduces a structural weakness in the machine which appears upon attempts to operate the machine at high speed. Accordingly, the maximum speed of operation of the machine and the productive capacity of the apparatus or machine are limited.

Accordingly, it is one of the objects of the present invention to provide an improved coiling machine wherein the spools of filamentary material are rotated merely about their own axes whereby the machine can be operated at much higher speeds over much longer periods of time than machines heretofore suggested and used for such purpose, resulting in greatly increased efiiciency and productive capacities and, at the same time, producing a much more satisfactory product.

It is another object of the invention to provide an improvedcoiling machine wherein there is provided a rotatable member having a spool of filamentary material arranged therewith and a stationary needle-like mandrel arranged axially thereof and extending outwardly there-' from around which the filament is wound upon rotation of the rotatable member together with the spools so as to form a coiled filament around the needle.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an improved coiling machine including a rotatable member to which a continuous length-of filament is delivered havinga needle-like mandrel arranged axially thereof and extending outwardly therefrom which mandrel is preferably rectangular-shape in cross section and positioned at a point off-set from the axis of rotation of the rotatable member with the rotatable member applying tension to the filament as it passes therefrom to the mandrel so as to be wound therearound upon rotation of the rotatable member to form a coiled filament therearound whereby the filament is subjected to a greater tension around the mandrel during the rotation of the rotatable member through one part of a revolution. than that tension to which the filament is subjected during the rotation of..the same through the other part of the revolution so as to deform the filament at spaced-apart intervals therealong in cooperation with the side of the mandrel in each convolution of the coiled filament at one.side thereof.

It is still a further object of the invention to provide an improved coiling machine including a pair of opposed rotatable members with each having a spool of filamentary material wound therearound with the rotatable members together with the spools arranged on horizontal axes and in alignment with one another, a needle-like arcuated mandrel around which the filamentary material is adapted to be wound to form a pair of coiled filaments arranged axially of each of the rotatable members and with the free ends extending outward therefrom and dis-' posed in grooves and cavities arranged in and around the periphery of a forming wheel into which grooves and cavities the coiled filaments are delivered from the free ends of the mandrels wherein the filaments are shaped, sized and cured during the rotation thereof on an axis parallel to the axes of rotation of the rotatable members.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a coiling machine including a forming wheel for curing the filaments having grooves and cavities arranged in and around the periphery thereof for receiving the coiled filaments from the ends of arcuated needle-like mandrels with these mandrels being constructed and arranged relative to the forming wheel so that practically the full circumference of the wheel is utilized for curing the coiled filaments whereby lower curing temperatures may be used which results in the coiled filaments maintaining their shape for a longer period of time.

It is another object of this invention to provide an improved needle-like mandrel for such a coiling machine which is arcuated and substantially rectangular shape in cross section.

Various other objects and advantages of this invention will be more apparent in the course of the following specification, and will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, there is shown for the purpose of illustration, an embodiment which the invention may assume in practice.

In these drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view, partly in section, of the improved coiling machine in accordance with the present invention,

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary view, partly in section, of the left side of the machine as shown in FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view through the forming wheel,

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the forming wheel and associated mechanism,

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view showing the needle-like mandrels positioned in the grooves of the forming wheel,

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken on line 66 of FIG. 5,

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary view, partly in section, showing the filamentary material being wound around one of the needle-like mandrels so as to form a coiled filament which is shown being delivered from the end of the mandrel into a groove and cavities in the forming wheel,

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary view, partly in section, of a portion of the forming wheel showing the coiled filaments positioned in the grooves and cavities therein, and

FIG. 9 is an enlarged isometric view of a portion of a completedcoiled filament as produced by the machine.

The product manufactured by the machine of the present invention is a continuous coil, two identical coils in the present instance, preferably of a thermosetting plastic filamentary material, such as nylon, to be used in the construction of slide fasteners of the filament type. The product, designated by C, as more clearly shown in FIG. 9, is made by winding the filament F around a stationary mandrel in a manner and by mechanism hereinafter to be described. During the winding operation and forming of the coiled filament a cobra-like head portion or crown H is formed in each convolution at one side thereof for a purpose well known to those skilled in the art.

It will be understood that in the coiling machine, as shown in FIG. 1, the mechanism on the right side of the machine is identical with that on the left side, as shown in FIG. 2, except one is right hand and the other left hand and, accordingly, the same reference characters will be used throughout the specification for the parts at both sides Referring more particularly to the drawings, there is provided a pair of frusto-conical shaped members 2 rotatably arranged in suitable bearings on horizontal stationary shafts 3 which are suitably supported in the frame of the machine. At the inner end of each of these shafts 3 there is arranged preferably a stationary supporting bushing 4. There is provided a pair of arcuate-shaped needle-like mandrels '5 having one end affixed to this bushing 4 at a point ofiiset from the axes of rotation of the rotatable members 2, as more clearly shown in FIGS. 5 and 7 of the drawings. These needles 5 are preferably rectangular shape in cross section, as more clearly shown in FIG. 7, which is one of the most important aspects of the invention. However, while these needle-like members 5 are shown rectangular shape in cross section they may be of any cross-sectional shape providing they have a pair of spaced-apart realtively sharp corners on one side thereof, as at 5a.

There is provided a forming wheel 6 which is mountedon a rotatable shaft 37 arranged substantially parallel to the shafts 3 and the axes of rotation of the rotatable members 2. In and around the outer periphery of this wheel 6, there is arranged in side-by-side relation a pair of grooves 7 having spaced-apart cavities 7a arranged around the circumference. The free end of each of the needle-like mandrels 5 is disposed in these respective grooves which grooves are adapted to receive the coiled filaments C with the convolutions disposed in the cavities 7a as clearly shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, as they pass from the ends of the mandrels. It will be understood that the periphery of this forming wheel 6 is heated preferably by heating members 6a arranged annularly therearound or by any other suitable means which in turn are adapted to heat the coiled filaments to soften and set the same as they are conveyed thereby therearound.

There is provided a pair of cage-like reel members 8 having circular ends 9 with a plurality of rods 10 extending therebetween and a pair of hollow shafts 12 upon each of which a spool S of the filamentary material F is adapted to be disposed, as shown in FIG. 1. It will be seen that these hollow shafts 12 telescope the respective stationary shafts 3 and are adapted to rotate therearound and that these hollow shafts 12 are connected to the respective rotatable members 2 so as to be rotated therewith.

There is securely arranged on each of these shafts 12,

'a pulley 13 around each of which there is arranged a timing belt 14 for driving the same through the pulleys 15 and 16 arranged on the shaft 17 with another belt arranged around the pulleys 16 and pulley 18 mounted on shaft 19 of a motor M.

There is also provided a pulley 30 on the end of the shaft 17 which drives a reduction mechanism (not shown) which, in turn, rotates the forming wheel 6 by means of a sprocket or pulley 31 arranged on the shaft 37. It will be understood that this reduction mechanism rotates the forming wheel 6 in timed relation to the rotation of the hollow shafts 12 and the spools S positioned thereon.

As more clearly shown in FIG. 4, there is arranged circumferentially around the forming wheel 6 and in contact therewith, preferably an endless flexible metallic band 20 which is disposed around a plurality of guide pulleys 21. This band is driven frictionally by the wheel 6 upon rotation thereof and it is the purpose of the band to maintain the coiled filaments C in the grooves 7 as the wheel rotates.

Having described the general construction of the machine, it functions in the following manner.

It will be assumed that a spool S of filamentary material F is positioned on each of the rotatable shafts 12, as shown in FIG. 1. The filamentary material F, in the present instance, passes from the spool S around the outer sides of the respective rods 10-, around pulleys 22 carried by one of the rods, over and around a series of pulleys 23 and 23a arranged at the inner end of the reels 8. The pulleys 23 are arranged on the outer end of the levers 40 which are pivotally attached, as at 41 to the respective reels 8 and the pulleys 23a are rotatably mounted on the respective circular ends 9. These levers are spring loaded and are adapted to control a variable tension mechanism which controls a frictional shoe device arranged on the inner circular ends of the respective reels 8 for driving frictionally the spools S so as to compensate for the amount of filamentary material F being drawn from the respective spools as the coiled filaments are being formed and the amount of filamentary material on the spools is being depleted. It then passes through tubular guide members 24 and around a pulley 25, then parallel to the shafts 12. and then through apertures 26 in the rotatable members 2. to the inner end of the respective mandrels 5 directly next to the respective bushings 4. and around the mandrels. The machine is now in readiness for operation.

@It will .be ,understoodthat the" filamentary, material: F is :underzslight tensionras itpasses-through the; apertures 261 in :the: rotatable"members-2. The, rotatable members 2 togetheruwith .the shafts .12 are then set in. operation by the motor M whereby. the spoolsS are rotated. Upon such rotation-the filamentary materialsFris drawn from the respective spoolsby the respective stationarymandrels '5. and wound: therearound. so "as: to provide a :series ofconvolutions of the filamentary material v,on the. mandrels,,as more clearlyshown in FIG. 7. As the rotatable members 2 rotate it will be seen that the distancefrom the I respective apertures 26, in the rotatablemembers' to the sides of the.respective'mandrels 5, as shown' in FIG. 7, isvgreaternduring one .partof a revolution than :itais during the otherwpart of'the-re'volut-ion due to the-fact that the mandrels 5 are positioned at a point olTset-from the axes Lof-rotationof Itherotat'able membersand, as a resultthe filamentary material F is subjected toa greater tension around the mandrels during .the rotation of the rotatable members through: one part of 1 a: revolution than that tension to which the filament is subjected :;during the rotation of the samethr'ou'ghthe other part of the revolution-wherebyethe filamentary; material between the corners "5a of the mandrel is deformed at spaced apart intervals therealong in cooperation with thesidesand. cor ners of the respective mandrels in eachconvolution ,of the coiled filament so as to provide a cobra-like crown or. head portion H at one side of each convolution of the coiled filament, as shown in FIGP9 of the drawings.

The coiled-filaments C then pass along the respective mandrels 5 and off the end thereof into the respective groovesand cavities in the forming wheelo andin. under the I flexible band '20. The'coiled filaments are lconveyed by this'wheel 6' in side by -side relation preferably almost 360'degrees'to a; point directly'below the rriarid'rel's'i where they are strippedor v removed from the grooye s by a device 27 and there" is provided preferably adev'ic'e 28 for mating the coiled filamentsC 'so thatthey are interengaged.

As hereinbefore explained,.- it'-will be understood that the periphery of the forming wheel 6 is heated and. as the coiled filaments C are conveyed therearound thereby; they are heated so as to soften the same, cured and set so as to relieve any tension in the filamentary material.

Thus it will be seen that almost the full circumference of the forming wheel is utilized by using arcuated or 90- degree needle-like mandrels. This is a decided advantage in that it provides a lower curing (setting temperature) and, as a result, the coils are conditioned so as to maintain their shape for a longer period of time (reduced memory) which is a very important factor in manufacturing such coiled filaments.

As a result of my invention it will be seen that there is provided an improved coiling machine for making coiled filaments for slide fastener stringers wherein a pair of filaments are not only coiled by the filaments but are automatically and simultaneously deformed so as to provide an interlocking head portion on each convolution of each of the coils, and that the coiled filaments are simultaneously cured so as to provide completely finished slide fastener coiled elements of the continuously connected type.

While there is shown and described an embodiment which the invention may assume in practice, it will be understood that this embodiment is merely for the purpose of illustration and description, and that other forms can be devised within the scope of the invention as defined in the appendedclaims.

I claim:

1. In a coiling machine of the class described,

a rotatable member,

a supporting member arranged axially of said rotatable member, a needle-like mandrel carried by said supporting member with the axis of said mandrel off-set from the 6 axis'xof rotation offsaid rotatable member with the free end extending outwardly therefrom,

means for delivering a continuous length of filament from a source of supply to said rotatable member whereby the filament is wound under varying tension in the course of said wrap around said mandrel upon rotation of said rotatable member so as to form a continuous coiled filament therearound which includes a head portion on each convolution, and

a forming Wheel having a groove arranged in and around the periphery thereof with the free end of said mandrel positioned in said groove.

2. In a coiling machine of the class described,

.i. a-rotatable member,

1 means for delivering a continuous length of filament to said rotatable member,

, an arcuated stationary needle-like mandrel with said rotatable member,

, means for supporting said needle-like mandrel axially of the rotatable member so as to extend outwardly from the'end thereof,

, said mandrel being substantially rectangular-shape in cross section and with its axis adjacent said means for supporting the same being off-set from the axis of rotation of said rotatable member,

1 means for rotating said rotatable member whereby the filament is wound around said mandrel upon rotation .of saidrotatable member so as to form coiled filament therearound, and r .a forming wheel for receiving the filament coil from '2 the free end of said mandrel,

said forming wheel having a groove arranged in and around the periphery thereof with the free end of .said mandrel being: disposed in said groove.

3. In a coiling machine of the class described, a pair of" rotatable members,

means for delivering a. continuous length of filament to arranged each of said rotatable members, a: stationary needle-like mandrel arranged with each of said rotatable members and extending outward- 1y therefrom,

means for supporting each of said needle-like mandrels at one end thereof axially of the respective rotatable members so that the free ends extend outwardly from the ends thereof,

each of said mandrels having a rectangular-shaped cross section and being off-set at said one end from the axes of rotation of said rotatable members,

means for rotating said rotatable members whereby continuous length of filaments from the filaments are wound around the respective mandrels upon rotation of said rotatable members so as to form coiled filaments therearound, and

a forming wheel for receiving the filament coils from the free ends of said mandrels,

said forming wheel having a pair of spaced-apart grooves arranged therein in side-by-side relation in and around the periphery thereof with the free ends of each of said mandrels being positioned opposite the respective grooves'in said forming wheel.

4. In a coiling machine as defined in claim 3 including an endless flexible band arranged partially around the periphery of said wheel and which cooperates therewith to guide and hold the filament coils in said grooves as the wheel rotates.

5. In a coiling machine as defined in claim 3 wherein the needle-like mandrels are substantially arcuate-shaped with each of said mandrels at their respective said one ends located in a common axis.

6. In a coiling machine of the class described,

a pair of spools adapted to carry a supply of filament wound therearound having their axes arranged horizontally in alignment with one another,

a stationary member arranged axially of each of said spools,

a needle-like arcuated mandrel carried by each of said stationary members having one end affixed thereto with the free end extending outwardly beyond the respective spools in opposed relation around which mandrels the filaments are adapted to be wound so as to form coiled filaments therearound, and

means for guiding the filaments from said spools to the respective mandrels,

a forming wheel having a pair of spaced-apart grooves arranged therein in side-by-side relation in and around around the periphery thereof which wheel is adapted to rotate on an axis substantially parallel to axes of said spools,

the free ends of each of said mandrels 'being positioned with one opposite each groovein said forming wheel.

7. In a coiling machine as defined in claim 6 wherein each of the needle-like mandrels is rectangular-shaped in cross section and being supported by the respective stationary members at a point ofi-set from the axes of rotation of said spools.

8. In a coiling machine of the class described, a pair of oppositely disposed stationary needle-like mandrels having their supported ends arranged substantially in alignment with one another,

a pair of spools adapted to carry a supply of filament arranged horizontally in alignment with one another and in alignment with said supported end of each of said mandrels with one associated with each of said mandrels,

means arranged axially of each of said spools at one end thereof for rigidly supporting one end of the respective mandrels,

means for guiding the filament from each of said spools to the respective mandrels upon which the filament I is coiled, as the spools rotate,

a forming wheel for receiving the filament coils from the free ends of said mandrels,

said forming wheel having a pair of spaced-apart grooves arranged in and around the periphery thereof which wheel is adapted to rotate on an axis substantially parallel to the rotatable axes of said spools,

the free ends of each of said mandrels being disposed one opposite each, groove,

1 means for'rotati'ng each of said spools about their re- "spective axes relative to: the respective 'mandrels whereby by the filament is wrapped around the respective'mandrels as 'it passes therefrom to said f'forming'wheel so as to coil the same, and

means for rotating said forming wheel in timed relation to the rotation of 'saidspools. 1

9. In a coiling machine as defined in claim 8 including means a'rrangd'with the forming wheel for heating the coiled filaments as they pass therearound so as to cure and 'size the same.

"10.In a' coiling-machine as defined in claim 8 including an endless flexible band arranged partially around the periphery of said wheel and which cooperates therewith to guide andhold the filament coils in said grooves as the wheel rotates. r t 1 1-1. -In a coiling machine as defined in claim 8 wherein the needle-like mandrels are arcuate-shaped with one end of each being rigidly supported centrally of the respective spools and the' opposite free end disposed in the respective groovesin said wheel.

12. In a coiling machine as defined in claim 8 wherein each of the needle-like mandrels is rectagular-shape in cross section and arcuated with one end of each being J. SPENCER OVtE-RHOLSER, Primary Examiner 'R. L. SBICER,'Assistant Examiner US. Cl. XJR. 

